Not sure what the distinction would be. Avionics are nothing more than electronics used in air and spacecraft, so given this is a space site the two tags seem a distinction without a difference.
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While I agree that avionics are electronics, I can see how we could use both as separate tags. Questions tagged as avionics might ask more about their function, while those tagged as electronics about their operation. For example, if I had a question about SEU (single event upset), it might not necessarily be about avionics alone. And if I ask about CAS (collision avoidance systems) the question probably wouldn't be so much about electronics as it would be about their specific function.
But that's just my opinion, so let's rather see what questions we now have that support this assertion; First the questions tagged as avionics that aren't also tagged with electronics:
- How large are the Curiosity rover's FPGAs which enable "dream mode"?
- What does 'triple redundant closed-loop digital avionics system' mean?
- Overheating problem in a nano-satellite due to proximity of system components
- Advances in AI and Avionics needed for deep space exploration?
- What entails "Avionics" on the Antares Rocket?
Quite many of these could also use electronics, but crucially, not all of them. OK, it's still not clear. How about questions tagged as electronics that supposedly aren't about avionics:
- Strategies for combating ESD and ground plane potential shifts on spacecraft charging?
- Where does electrical power on a rocket come from?
- Space computing, general question
- How does Rosetta "wake-up?"
- Resilience to data transmission errors of the Juno spacecraft
- Does Juno use MPPT?
- Are custom semiconductors used on board spacecraft/robots?
- What are the chances of getting struck by lightning while in Earth orbit?
- What shielding would be required to use commercial components in lunar exploration?
OK, this set is a bit clearer, as expected. Some could still also use avionics, but again not all, not even most.
Having in mind that tags in structure don't necessarily have to follow their academic lineage, and that they mainly serve the purpose of organizing contents and making them easier to find, it seems there's two options:
- Create avionics a tag synonym of electronics, with latter being master of the former, or
- Leave as is and let question authors decide if they want to use one, the other, or both
Since we only have 10 questions tagged as electronics and 6 questions tagged as avionics (and only one using both tags, yours posted a few minutes ago), I'm inclined to let them live independent lives for a bit longer and we see what makes sense later, as it becomes more apparent. Plus, that means I (or any other mod) don't have to do anything, which is also nice. How does that sound?
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1$\begingroup$ Tough to complain with that logic. While I would say all of the electronics articles avionics would work as well I am compelled by the argument that the purpose of tags is to be useful people searching and OPs. If people are using both with little overlap then perhaps both add value. $\endgroup$ – Adam Wuerl Apr 11 '15 at 1:59
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"Avionics" are electronics systems that have mostly to do with the control of an aircraft, especially the HMI (human-machine interface), but the terminology doesn't usually extend to the context of a satellite or space probe, though you could include some of the TTC&C (Telemetry, Tracking & Command, Communication) Systems as well as the (ACS) Attitude Control System as having an avionics function.
However the "Electronics" tag would definitely include items like the electrical power system, attitude measurement sensors, payload instrumentation and control, eg transponders in a telecoms sat or instrumentation electronics eg cameras and scientific instruments in Landsat or New Horizons, TTC&C subsystems, and antennas.
Certainly there is no mention or explanation of the term "avionics" in any of the references that I've referred to below, and have at hand. Reference 4 includes the term "AIMS" = Avionics Integrated Modular System in a list appendix, but doesn't use the term anywhere in the book.
So I would say, in summary, that the term "electronics" is all-inclusive, whereas, "avionics" doesn't apply to spaceborne systems.
References
- Satellite Communications, Dennis Roddy, 4ed., McGraw-Hill, 2006
- Satellite Technology and its Applications, PRK Chetty, 2ed., TAB Books/McGraw-Hill, 1991
- Principles of Space Instrument Design, AM Cruise, JA Bowles, TJ Patrick, CV Goodall, Cambridge Uni Press, 1998
- Air and Spaceborne Radar Systems: An Introduction, Philippe Lacomme, Jean-Philippe Hardange, Jean-Claude Marchais, Eric Normant, translated from the French, William Andrew Publishing, 2001
